Grand opening of Five Guys

THE COURIER/Photos by Nargas Karimi
Rob LaMarca, store manager of Five Guys,with two employees.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries had customers waiting outside their restaurant for their grand opening on Monday, September 19 in the Sky View Center.

“Before 11 a.m., there was a line with about 10 people waiting for us to open,” said Monique Jimenez, employee of Five Guys.

The fast food chain opened on level B of the regional mall. This 2,000-square-foot Five Guys marked the third Queens location for the burger joint.

“We don’t have any holding units, such as freezers, so everything goes freshly prepped on the grill,” said Rob LaMarca, store manager of Five Guys.

Founded in 1986 by Janie and Jerry Murrel, Five Guys continues to be family-owned by their five sons. The company, which originated in Arlington, Virginia, has quickly expanded from a local favorite to an international brand. Known for their double-patty burgers, the restaurant’s signature look continues to be their red and white checked design scheme.

“Everything we cook is with 100 percent peanut oil. We also offer free peanuts while you eat; fresh quality products are what we serve,” said LaMarca.

Located in Downtown Flushing and a short distance away from other heavily-populated Queens neighborhoods, Sky View Center retailers stand to benefit from a large population density. It’s also easily accessible by both car and mass transit. The regularly expanding shopping destination currently offers three hours of free parking seven days a week.